The function and operations of the Louisiana Attorney General’s office was the topic of discussion at the meeting of the Winnfield Rotary Club held on November 17, 2021. The speaker for the meeting was Mary Lou Blackley, Winnfield native and attorney, who retired from service in the state Attorney General’s Office and returned to Winnfield in 2018.

Ms. Blackley, who worked for the Attorney General’s regional office in Shreveport from 2004 through 2018, explained that the Louisiana Attorney General is, according to the Louisiana Constitution of 1974, “the chief legal officer of the state.”  The Office has seven divisions which focus on different subject matters within the authority of the attorney general.

Mary Lou explained that the AG’s civil division researches legal questions submitted by elected officials within Louisiana, and represents those elected officials in lawsuits when necessary. It also represents the state in any matter in which a state statute is attacked as unconstitutional.  The criminal division investigates and prosecutes criminal cases involving issues of statewide concern such as cybercrime, human trafficking, and Medicaid fraud, as well as handling criminal prosecutions as requested by district attorneys across the state. The investigation division assists in the investigation of the criminal matters being handled by the criminal division, and initiates and handles all investigations of Medicaid fraud.

The public protection section handles matters involving complaints by citizens related to illegal business practices and widespread distribution of defective or dangerous products and materials, cases involving recoupment of state funds wrongfully obtained, and similar matters. The AG’s office also has a collection section, which engages in recoupment of money owed to the state based on student loans, or other types of money judgments obtained in favor of the state.

The administrative division handles all matters related to administering the office which employs hundreds of attorneys, paralegals, secretaries, and their supervisors, as well as technical support staff, and the expenses related to operating a large law office.

Ms. Blackley pointed out to her audience that, in many states within the United States, individuals may not bring lawsuits against the state because of sovereign immunity granted to the individual states under the U. S. Constitution. However, this immunity may be given up by the state, and in Louisiana, the legislature has done so to allow lawsuits against the state for matters involving personal injury and contract. Therefore, the state of Louisiana requires numerous attorneys to represent it in these cases, and the Attorney General’s office determines which attorneys represent the state in the various lawsuits. Most of those are directly employed in the AG’s litigation division, and the Attorney General has discretion to retain attorneys in private practice to represent the state and its employees in any such matter.

Ms. Blackley was a member of the AG’s litigation division, which handles lawsuits in which the state, its departments and agencies, and state employees are sued for recovery of damages due to personal injury or civil rights violations. The litigation division has its office in Baton Rouge in the Livingston Building across the pond behind the Louisiana Capitol Building. It also has five satellite offices because lawsuits filed against the state for personal injury recovery are most often filed in the parish in which the alleged injury occurred. The largest is in New Orleans, and there are smaller offices in Shreveport, Alexandria, Lafayette and Monroe.

Mary Lou spent all her years with the Attorney General’s Office in the Shreveport satellite office, and most of her cases involved medical malpractice claims against medical personnel employed by the State of Louisiana, primarily those employed with LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, which has a medical school and several graduate residency programs. She, along with the eight to ten other attorneys in her office, also represented the state and state employees in general personal injury claims such as automobile accidents, lawsuits filed by prisoners against the Louisiana Department of Corrections, road hazard claims against the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development for alleged highway defects, workers compensation claims by state employees alleged to have been hurt on the job and rendered unable to work. During Ms. Blackley’s tenure with the office, her division employed some 80 to 85 attorneys, including those housed in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Shreveport, Lafayette, Alexandria and Monroe, at any given time, plus numerous paralegals, secretaries and other support staff.

At the conclusion of the program, the meeting was adjourned with the Rotary motto, “Service above self!”

Pictured above: Left Rotarian Mary Lou Blackley, Rotary Club President Jodi Taylor

City of Winnfield Police Department

Name: Kendrick D. Wright-Elie
Date: 11-16-2021
Address: Alexandria, LA
Race: Black
Gender: Male
Age: 37
Charge: Failure to Appear Bench Warrant X 2

Name: DeJoe L. Kimble
Date: 11-18-2021
Address: Ruston, LA
Race: Black
Gender: Male
Age: 52
Charge: Bench Warrant Failure to Appear X 2

Name: Darrieus Ard
Date: 11-18-2021
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: Black
Gender: Male
Age: 26
Charge: Criminal Mischief, Theft, Possession of Schedule II Meth

Name: Amber Jones
Date: 11-20-2021
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: White
Gender: Female
Age: 36
Charge: No Seatbelt, Bench Warrant

Name: Ernest Freeman
Date: 11-20-2021
Address: Vidalia, LA
Race: White
Gender: Male
Age: 48
Charge: Insurance Required, Driving While Intoxicated 1st Offense

The Winnfield Christmas Parade sponsored by the Winn Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis of Winnfield and the City of Winnfield will be Friday, December 3rd, at 6 PM on Main Street in downtown Winnfield.

The theme for this year’s parade is “Christmas in Whofield.” There will be a fireworks display following the parade.

Organizations interested in registering a float for the parade please contact Shonna Moss at 318-628-0169.

WINN:
Barbara Ann Poole
August 2, 1946 – November 18, 2021
Service: Monday, November 22 at 2 pm at Southern Funeral Home

NATCHITOCHES:
Hunter Zachary Carroll
April 20, 1986 – November 18, 2021
Service: Tuesday, November 23 at 11 am in the chapel of Blanchard St. Denis

Edith Linn Rawls
May 06, 1928 – November 18, 2021
Service: Monday, November 22 at 1 pm in the chapel of Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home

Addisyn James – Winn Parish

Battling a heart condition is emotional and arduous. But battling a heart condition as one of the most infamous natural disasters is approaching the Gulf Coast is a whole other situation. That’s what happened when Addisyn James was born in June 2005. 

When Addisyn was born in central Louisiana, near her hometown of Winnfield, LA, in Winn Parish, her family did not know she had a heart condition at first. But soon after she was born, Addisyn was diagnosed with an interrupted aortic arch, which is a rare heart condition in which the aorta does not form completely. Addisyn and mother Destiny were immediately transported to New Orleans, where she had her first open heart surgery at 14 days old at a neighboring hospital. 

As Addisyn was recovering, Hurricane Katrina made landfall along the Gulf Coast on August 29, 2005. As we remember all too well, the storm was intense, but the aftermath was devastating to the city. Addisyn’s mother, Destiny, remembers that she was not able to stay at the hospital during the storm, but Addisyn was transported back to a hospital in Rapides Parish in the middle of the night to escape the dangers of the storm.

It was for Addisyn’s second open heart surgery when she was just two years old that she and her family came to Children’s Hospital New Orleans. Addisyn underwent her second surgery and her third open heart surgery took place a year later when she was three years old, performed by Dr. Timothy Pettitt. Following her second surgery, Addisyn had a long and hard recovery, but after her third surgery, recovery was much easier.

“We had a wonderful experience at Children’s,” said Addisyn’s mom, Destiny. “I could not have asked for better care from each member of Addisyn’s care team. We spent most of our time in the pediatric intensive care unit and I always felt like they were on our level. In fact, after Addisyn’s second or third surgery, Dr. Pettitt sat with her for the whole night following to ensure she was recovering well. That was amazing to me.”

One of the most vivid memories Destiny shared was after Addisyn’s third open heart surgery. Throughout the early years of her life, Addisyn was a small baby and her skin was blue most of the time due to her heart condition. But after her third open heart surgery, Destiny remembers they walked in to see Addisyn post-operation and she was not blue anymore. This moment is emblazoned in Destiny’s memory as a turning point in Addisyn’s journey.

After three open heart surgeries and a dozen other procedures, Addisyn is now an average high school junior at Calvin High School where she loves her agriculture classes, 4-H Club, and she loves to be outdoors and swim. Her heart rate is monitored very closely by way of a loop monitor, so heart rate can be regulated no matter what activity she is participating in. 

“But that doesn’t hold her back,” shared Destiny. “You wouldn’t know by looking at her that she has a heart condition.” 

64 Stories of healing – As Louisiana’s children’s hospital, Children’s Hospital New Orleans is proud to care for children from every parish in the state – from Caddo to Coushatta and Tensas to Tangipahoa. Experience their stories of triumph, victory, and healing by visiting https://64stories.chnola.org/.

If you haven’t taken the picturesque road trip up Louisiana Highway 479 to Goldonna, what are you waiting for? The hilly and winding road is most welcoming especially during the changing of seasons.

As I always seem to remind you, this is the perfect time to visit. The community churches are all getting ready for Thanksgiving services and family fellowship meals. Goldonna Assembly of God will host “The McClanahan’s” on Sunday, November 21 at 1:30pm. River of Life Church will have a Thanksgiving service as well as a pot luck dinner on the grounds afterward.

The Goldonna Wildcats recently celebrated their Homecoming at the last home basketball game. The cheerleaders were very grateful for the support they received while fundraising during basketball season. They will also be holding a raffle during Christmas In the Park, it will consist of a women’s gift basket and a men’s gift basket. Split the Pot tickets are still available and the prize is stacking up nicely. Please reach out to Mayor Smith or Eugene Garner for tickets. The committee is working diligently to secure sponsors for the event and welcome any donations. They can be mailed to the Village of Goldonna Town Hall and please mark them as donations to CITP. The mailing address is PO Box 157, Goldonna, LA 71031. Jade Burke has graciously volunteered to coordinate the Christmas Parade. If you are interested in participating please contact her at 318-471-8976. There will be a $250 prize for the 1st place float and a $50 prize awarded to the 1st place ATV.

Santa is making a list and checking it twice! Santa and Mrs. Claus will make an appearance at the festival and be available for pictures.

You don’t want to miss this community wellness event….There will be a Covid vavvination opportunity on Friday November 19th from 9am until 12pm at the Kingdom of Life Center located at 3089 Highway 71 in Campti, LA.

If you have news to share please email Reba Phelps at jreba.phelps@gmail.com

Today, I’m going to veer from my usual perspective as an angler and go down a different path that has brought me to where I am today. People come and go in our lives, but some people have a bigger impact than others. Now this is not always by chance, but I think it’s all a part of God’s plan for each of us.  Some folks we meet and truly get to know over a long period of time, forming a friendship that leaves a lasting impression on our lives. While there are others who come into our life for a brief moment and change our direction forever. Today I’ll reflect and tell you my story of someone who falls into this latter category. 

As an athlete growing up, I was blessed with some great coaches from my Little League days through high school, college and professional…coaches who knew how to push me to be the best I could be, not just as an athlete, but as a person. They taught me that those who work harder than everyone else will be the most successful.  They emphasized how to be a leader on and off the field. My first coach, James Stansell, showed me, at the age of 8 years old,  what it meant to believe in someone. He was a tough old cuss who had a reputation for being too rough with kids; a coach who had you run laps at the next practice if you made a mistake like missing a ground ball, striking out or making a bad throw. But one thing he gave me was confidence. He would tell me every day how much he believed in me as a player, and how I was ‘his” guy and that there was no one better. He taught me to believe in myself more than anyone else would ever believe in me. These lessons continued to be taught by my high school and college coaches…lessons like being responsible, taking pride in who you are, and understanding that you control your own destiny. They stressed that as a player you represent your parents, coaches, community, and school, but more importantly, you represent yourself.  You’re truly a reflection on those you’re associated with. 

Now, let me introduce you to the man that changed my life forever. As a high school quarterback from Mt. Pleasant, Texas, I played at a school with a reputation for winning. However, in my senior season of 1978, things did not go as planned for us as a team. With a new coaching staff, to say we struggled is an understatement. But it’s funny how things worked out. We were playing the Atlanta Rabbits in East Texas one Friday night and a coach by the name of Al Miller of Northwestern State was there scouting a linebacker from Atlanta. A coach on our staff, Coach Mike Fields, made conversation with Coach Miller at half time and encouraged him to take a closer look at me as a potential college player. I never knew this until months later when Coach Miller came to my house on a cold winter night to visit with my parents and me. 

Now after being recruited by several Division 1 schools, I had heard all the BS a player could possibly hear. I thought Coach Miller would be the same, but was I ever wrong. I asked him if he could guarantee that I would be a starter and not be redshirted …. like other schools had promised. Yes, that was an arrogant question, but I wanted to see what he would say. Would Coach Miller be like all the rest? Well, he did not give me the answer I was expecting. He said “Steve, I’m not here to guarantee you anything other than the opportunity. It’s up to you when you get there as to whether those things happen for you or not.” WOW!!! Finally, someone who shot me straight and told the truth! This hit me like a sledgehammer right between the eyes. I knew right then and there that I was headed to Northwestern State to further my education and athletic career and I did not even know where Northwestern State was located! Coach Miller’s attitude and honesty had won me over; he was different.  

I never got to play under Coach Al Miller since he committed to be the strength & conditioning coach for the NFL’s Denver Broncos under Head Coach Dan Reeves in 1979.  His status as the best strength and conditioning coach in the country has made him a legendary Hall of Fame coach that continues to this day. The biggest honor for me was knowing that I was his last recruit to Northwestern State. Coach Miller changed the direction of my life, even though he never coached or spent any substantial amount of time with me…just that hour and a half at my house in the winter of 1978. That was all it took for him to have a lasting impression on my life and become a man who I will forever be grateful to.  He was the catalyst that allowed me to have a great career at NSU, graduate, get drafted, and meet and marry the love of my life, Sherrie. We had three kids and raised them on the banks of Sibley Lake in Natchitoches, watching them grow up and become fine people. To this day, I am aware that my existing life was set into motion because of a coach who saw a young boy from Mt. Pleasant, Texas, that he thought deserved an opportunity. Thank you, Coach Al Miller, for changing my life!!!

Steve Graf  Owner/Cohost 
Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show 

Winnfield, La., Nov. 18, 2021 — Seven Central Louisiana Technical Community College (CLTCC) students were recognized with scholarships funded by the Louisiana Forestry Foundation during the recent Louisiana Forestry Association Mini Conference in Alexandria.

“Good careers are available in forestry and the Louisiana Forestry Association is proud to support the training of future forestry workers attending Central Louisiana Technical Community College in Winnfield,” said C.A. “Buck” Vandersteen, Executive Director of the Louisiana Forestry Association. “Through the generosity of members of the forest community, the LFA’s
Forestry Foundation also provides scholarships to forestry students in addition to technical assistance to assure the best for the student studying for a forestry career.”

Students earning LFF scholarships are Trevor Higgs, Thomas McCarty, Keaton Nugent, Samuel Vidrine, Gavin Garner, Jaycen Williams, and Robert Verzwyvelt.

“The Louisiana Forestry Association is funded by forest landowners, logging professionals, and consuming mills throughout the state. We represent their combined interests and the forestry community in general,” said Tony Diaz, LFA President and Chipmill Operations Manager with Graphic Packaging International. “The association supports learning through forestry curricula
at our colleges and universities and beyond through continuing education. We believe forestry is an advanced and dynamic industry providing career opportunities of significance centered on our most renewable resource. The practice of sustainable forestry helps ensure a bright future for Louisiana’s economy, and our technical colleges help prepare students to make a difference using their acquired skills.”

The mission of the Louisiana Forestry Association is to be an advocate for the sustainable growing, harvesting and manufacturing of Louisiana’s forests and for the people whose livelihoods depend on these forest resources. The Louisiana Forestry Association was formed in 1947 to foster the practice of forestry, to rebuild the state’s cut-over lands, and to build a healthy forest industry.

For information about enrollment visit http://www.CLTCC.edu/apply. For more information, contact the school via email at info@cltcc.edu or call 800-278-9855.

The Winnfield Christmas Parade sponsored by the Winn Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis of Winnfield and the City of Winnfield will be Friday, December 3rd, at 6 PM on Main Street in downtown Winnfield.

The theme for this year’s parade is “Christmas in Whofield.” There will be a fireworks display following the parade.

Organizations interested in registering a float for the parade please contact Shonna Moss at 318-628-0169.

The Dugdemon High 12’s Annual Gumbo sale is Friday, December 3rd from 11 am to 1 pm at Eastern Star Masonic Lodge on Beville Street in Winnfield. 

Tickets are $10 and include a bowl of gumbo, slaw and dessert. 

You are welcome to eat at the lodge or dine out.

All proceeds go to fund scholarships for Winn Parish graduating students headed to college.

NATCHITOCHES:
Milton Helaire, Sr.
October 15,1957-November 9, 2021
Funeral Services: Saturday, November 20 at 12 pm at Agape Love Center. Visitation one hour prior to services.

Donna Lois Kelly
November 24, 1955 – November 10, 2021
Private family service at a later date.

SABINE:
Maria Bridges
September 29, 1934 – November 16, 2021
Service: Friday, November 19 at 10 am at Warren Meadows Funeral Home Chapel

Robert Kay Freeman
July 27, 1947 – November 8, 2021
Service: Saturday, November 20 at 11 am at Many Cemetery

The Winnfield Christmas Parade sponsored by the Winn Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis of Winnfield and the City of Winnfield will be Friday, December 3rd, at 6 PM on Main Street in downtown Winnfield.

The theme for this year’s parade is “Christmas in Whofield.” There will be a fireworks display following the parade.

Organizations interested in registering a float for the parade please contact Shonna Moss at 318-628-0169.